9 replies to this topic

[Jamie Abbott]

Awaiting delivery on my 180SP. I'm interested in your observations if you've already taken delivery.

[jasonandheather]

Was out on the lake this weekend on my 180 sp and had a great time. I love everything about the boat except for how low the bow rides in the water at low speeds or stopped and it is a bit louder than expected. I have taken a couple of wakes over the front of the boat because of the low bow. Just remember to keep the nose up if you are going through some big wakes or waves and you will be fine. Overall a great boat package!!

[MT180SP]

Love ours as well. Only real complaint is having to answer what kind of boat it is all the time but I suppose having people stare at it all the time is more of a compliment! I really do like the looks and color scheme on the SP.

Of course I have the cavitation at full throttle from a standstill, but I believe then again these H.O. 260 engines are the highest horsepower in these single engine jet boats yet so I suppose unless they begin to re-engineer the intake/impeller/pump area then we have to live with some cavitation. I am fine with it myself. Once you learn how to really control the power these boats scream and perform awesome.

To others with this boat: With the iTC on Ski Mode and the ramp set at the highest (5) does your SP cavitate even then? I get some for a couple of seconds with just 3 onboard in calm waters but not towing anything (just out messing around with it). Ramp 5 must be darn near 100% throttle holeshot!

[DeepSeaOne]

I've got about 7-8 hours on mine so far and I like it. Haven't noticed a cavitation problem but I'm still in break-in so WOT operation has been limited. The times I've done a WOT takeoff I didn't notice any cavitation. If I had any complaints they would be...

1. I like the idea of the snap-in carpeting but using open cell foam as a backing was beyond dumb. It acts as a sponge.

2. Trailer...with every boat I've ever owned the bow eye would meet the bow roller on the trailer and act as a stop. Mine is a little "un-right"... the winch tower seems too short which results in a downward pull on the bow eye which pulls the boat tighter to the skids and makes winching difficult. I can't seem to winch the boat forward enough and end up with a 1-2 inch space between the bow and the roller.

3. The on-board computer is nice, but multi-tasking was apparently not a design consideration. For example when your in the Eco mode (and other modes) your stuck staring at the screen with this scolling message that tells you how to turn it off. It would be nice if you could still use your compass regardless of mode. Just a minor annoyance but I operate on some large bodies of water at times where dead rekoning navigation isn't always possible. This could also be operator error but I haven't figured out how to get rid of the messages and stay in the selected mode.

Overall I love it. It's my second Sea-Doo boat and my complaints are pretty minor. Speed and handling are excellent except for maybe slow speed handling with a load, but that could just be me...I went from 2 jets on my 97 speedster to one on this one so slow speed steering is going to be different. Fuel economy is simply amazing....on day one I ran it for 1.5 hrs and only used 3 gallons. Day 2 I ran it all day and put maybe 6 hours on it and used maybe 13 gallons including a few miles through some pretty rough water in 15-20 mph winds. If it lasts as long as my 97 did (15 years and still truckin) It will have been money well spent.

[k-dub]

I have a question for you. Can you use the waketower while the bimini is out? It seems like the rope would be laying ontop of the bimini.

Thanks.

[DeepSeaOne]

I have a question for you. Can you use the waketower while the bimini is out? It seems like the rope would be laying ontop of the bimini.
Thanks.

Haven't tried it and hadn't thought to even look if it might clear. That would be nice though. Sun is brutal here and my bimini is always up.

[MT180SP]

I've got about 7-8 hours on mine so far and I like it. Haven't noticed a cavitation problem but I'm still in break-in so WOT operation has been limited. The times I've done a WOT takeoff I didn't notice any cavitation. If I had any complaints they would be...

1. I like the idea of the snap-in carpeting but using open cell foam as a backing was beyond dumb. It acts as a sponge.

2. Trailer...with every boat I've ever owned the bow eye would meet the bow roller on the trailer and act as a stop. Mine is a little "un-right"... the winch tower seems too short which results in a downward pull on the bow eye which pulls the boat tighter to the skids and makes winching difficult. I can't seem to winch the boat forward enough and end up with a 1-2 inch space between the bow and the roller.

3. The on-board computer is nice, but multi-tasking was apparently not a design consideration. For example when your in the Eco mode (and other modes) your stuck staring at the screen with this scolling message that tells you how to turn it off. It would be nice if you could still use your compass regardless of mode. Just a minor annoyance but I operate on some large bodies of water at times where dead rekoning navigation isn't always possible. This could also be operator error but I haven't figured out how to get rid of the messages and stay in the selected mode.

Overall I love it. It's my second Sea-Doo boat and my complaints are pretty minor. Speed and handling are excellent except for maybe slow speed handling with a load, but that could just be me...I went from 2 jets on my 97 speedster to one on this one so slow speed steering is going to be different. Fuel economy is simply amazing....on day one I ran it for 1.5 hrs and only used 3 gallons. Day 2 I ran it all day and put maybe 6 hours on it and used maybe 13 gallons including a few miles through some pretty rough water in 15-20 mph winds. If it lasts as long as my 97 did (15 years and still truckin) It will have been money well spent.

I completely agree with every comment. My boat is exactly like yours. I would love to be able to use the dash features when in Eco mode, as we go to a canyon lake that is 50 miles long and thus use Eco all the time, but because it locks up the dash, we cant see what time it is or the direction we are heading, for example, without pulling out of Eco first. Not a huge complaint but is an annoyance at times.

That said, I love Eco mode and have found it to actually make a big difference in mpg. I really love being in Eco for a couple of hours and then taking it out---feels like somebody dropped double the motor in this thing and suddenly it's a hot rod!

Also agree on the trailer thing. I have gotten pretty good at driving my boat on the trailer after my wife backs it in, and have gotten to know the right speed loading it to have the boat eye right up to the trailer's rubber roller. But there were times when I would have to crank it up and could tell it was being pulled in a downward direction toward the trailer bunks. I think as long as you get that boat forward while the trailer is deep enough it helps with the issue. But if you have to pull the boat forward when the whole thing is out of the water it is a pain.

I really do love this boat (I have owned 6 others) and give it a 9 out of 10 just because it aint perfect (dont think there is one perfect but this thing is pretty darn close!). It is very powerful and a blast on the water, holds 6 adults comfortably, has the widest beam ever on an 18 foot boat (making it feel roomier than a 23 footer I used to have), and it tows better on the road than ANY boat I have had due to its lightweight. Far as 18 foot 260 hp lightweight boats go, it has to be one of the best available anywhere. And that says a LOT. Plus the looks are amazing.

And no, I am not a salesman!

[BigWayne]

Can anyone tell me the difference between the 180SP and the 180SE SCIC?

Right now, the only differences I'm aware of are:
1. Factory wake tower
2. Ski mode
3. Unique color scheme

Am I missing anything else?

[Kevin Leclair]

I believe that covers it.

[BigWayne]

Anyone know how to enable ski mode on the 2012 C180 SE?